NA says it has not signed any deal either with US govt or US Army regarding SPP

KATHMANDU: The Nepali Army (NA) has said that it has not signed any agreement or memorandum of understanding (MoU) either with the United States Army or the US government in relation to the State Partnership Program (SPP).

Issuing a statement on Wednesday evening, the NA clarified it is not even in the process of reaching such agreement.

Earlier, the US Embassy in Nepal said that the US had accepted Nepal’s application in 2019 after the latter twice applied for the SPP.

“The the general public and the media are informed that the Nepali Army has always been clear and aware of an objective reality that no military partnership should be signed anyone even in the future to adversely affect Nepal’s non-aligned foreign policy, unique geopolitical position and strategic sensitivities,” the statement said.

Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Kathmandu Manuel P. Micaller taking to the media on Wednesday said, “after Nepal applied for SSP in 2015 and 2017, we finally accepted the request in 2019.”

The United States has said the request was accepted in 2019 for cooperation with the Utah National Guard.

According to the US Embassy, Rajendra Chhetri was the Chief of Army Staff at the time.